The UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF) has deployed two Typhoon fighter jets multiple times over recent days to intercept Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea.
On April 20, 2025, the Ministry of Defense and the RAF confirmed that the fighter jets were called upon three times in three days from Malbork Air Base, Poland, to surveil aircraft leaving Kaliningrad air space.
The first interception came on April 15, 2025, when Typhoons were scrambled to identify an Ilyushin Il-20M “Coot-A” intelligence aircraft.
Then later that day, British fighter jets were sent out again to intercept two SU-30MKI aircraft as they left Kaliningrad air space.
The RAF described the two Russian aircraft, known by the NATO code name FLANKER-H, as “two-seater air superiority fighter aircraft”.
On April 17, 2025, RAF Typhoon pilots were called upon for the third time to intercept an Ilyushin Il-20M that flew close to NATO air space over the Baltic Sea.
“Today (April 17) is the third time in three days that NATO have scrambled RAF assets at Malbork, today’s mission was to intercept and identify the unknown aircraft departing Kaliningrad air space. It was not communicating, so once intercepted we shadowed the aircraft to protect civilian air traffic in the immediate area,” said a spokesperson for the 140 Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW).
Aircrew from No. II (Army Co-operation) Squadron, part of 140 Expeditionary Air Wing, are currently conducting Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) as part of NATO’s enhanced Air Policing (eAP).
The intercepts mark the RAF’s first scramble as part of Operation CHESSMAN and come just weeks after the aircraft arrived in eastern Poland to begin their deployment alongside Sweden in defense of NATO’s Eastern Flank.
“The UK is unshakeable in its commitment to NATO. With Russian aggression growing and security threats on the rise, we are stepping up to reassure our Allies, deter adversaries and protect our national security through our Plan for Change,” the UK’s Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard said.
Pollard added: “This mission shows our ability to operate side by side with NATO’s newest member Sweden and to defend the Alliance’s airspace wherever and whenever needed, keeping us safe at home and strong abroad.”
The UK’s deployment of six Typhoon jets and nearly 200 personnel from 140 Expeditionary Air Wing is the country’s latest contribution to NATO’s air policing efforts, following operations in Romania and Iceland last year.
